Author Topic: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.  (Read 4310 times)

nereo

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Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« on: April 24, 2015, 10:05:02 AM »
For those of you that missed out on the holiday platinum Starbucks gift card, you've got another chance!  This mother's day you can buy a limited edition gift card for dear old Mom.  Yup, for just $200 you can give her $50 worth of horrendously overpriced coffee drinks.  Make that $4.50 latte cost $18!
Sadly, this isn't even a joke.

http://store.starbucks.com/limited-edition-mothers-day-premium-starbucks-card/011049644,default,pd.html?cm_mmc=CSE-_-ChannelIntel-_-GooglePLA-_-Evergreen&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=11049644

acepedro45

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2015, 10:31:56 AM »
300% markup....but still pretty outrageous.

Companies really do have no shame. Whenever I hear crap like this or the extended product warranty, I imagine it paraphrased as "Do you mind giving me some money for no reason? I'm just a poor corporation and I like to rattle the tin cup occasionally."


NumberCruncher

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2015, 10:38:33 AM »
I just emailed my mom telling her what a horrible daughter I am for not buying her that.

I would not be surprised if these sold for more second-hand, though...I think that's what happened with their last limited edition card.

FatCat

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2015, 10:42:06 AM »
I would love to know how many people bought this.

Why would anyone want to buy second hand gift cards? People like to collect limited edition gift cards? I throw away empty gift cards. The idea that someone would pay for them never occurred to me.

NumberCruncher

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2015, 11:07:02 AM »
I would love to know how many people bought this.

Why would anyone want to buy second hand gift cards? People like to collect limited edition gift cards? I throw away empty gift cards. The idea that someone would pay for them never occurred to me.

I think you missed the part where the card metal/ceramic and laser etched. /nods. Since they're still for sale, <1500 people have bought one so far.

Here's an old one - rose gold starbucks card that originally sold for $450: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Starbucks-Rose-Gold-Limited-Edition-Metal-Card-2013-0-Balance-/321671654794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae51fed8a  on ebay for $1500 (no balance)

The resale market on Bullshit is pretty healthy too (though not as healthy). Cards Against Humanity sold literal bullshit on black friday for $6 (not for profit, but to poke fun at black friday sales/consumerism) and here it's selling for $25 (I think it sold for as much as $50 at times): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cards-Against-Humanity-Bullshit-Black-Friday-Brand-New-Sealed-Bull-Poop-Sold-Out/271710195820?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29007%26meid%3Dacbade1e4d3b489a8ddcb91fca402a2c%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D10%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D161519867747

People are weird.

FatCat

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2015, 11:16:16 AM »
Here's an old one - rose gold starbucks card that originally sold for $450: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Starbucks-Rose-Gold-Limited-Edition-Metal-Card-2013-0-Balance-/321671654794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae51fed8a  on ebay for $1500 (no balance)

from the ebay ad:

Quote
These are the rarest of Starbucks cards and very few Baristas have seen these. You will get noticed by the Barista, and that's one of the things that makes the card fun.

The idea that I should care about Baristas noticing how rare my gift card is never occurred to me. This seems like a bad joke.

Now I'm picturing somebody buying that card, putting money on it, then paying with it, and.... the barsita failing to look impressed or comment on it. The customer takes their coffee away to sip it in silence with a forlorn expression. They keep repeating this until one day a barista finally comments on it and thus making the whole exercise worthwhile. 

James

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2015, 11:20:02 AM »
Yeah, I noticed that ebay comment also lol

For some people pulling out a fancy card to pay for their coffee might be worth more than the very coffee itself. I pity them, but I have heard of a lot worse... and it isn't really different than paying more for a fancy car, fancy clothes, fancy purse, and many other things people pay more to look a certain way... it's just showing off wealth and trying to represent yourself as different and higher quality in any way possible. It is in our dna to some extent.

MgoSam

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2015, 11:23:06 AM »
For the rarity thing, I can definitely see the appeal of having something like an Amex black. But otherwise, if I ever want to be noticed, I'll just bust out a bowtie... BOWTIES ARE COOL! Otherwise, eh. The sad part is that I know a ton of people that likely would wait out for one of these.

PencilThinStash

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Re: Mom deserves Starbucks... with a 400% Markup.
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2015, 12:51:21 PM »
BOWTIES ARE COOL!

I was planning on quietly reading this thread, rolling my eyes at Starbucks, then moving along without comment... but this deserved a tip of the hat (or a tip of the fez?)

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!